Sewage-system ventilation.



PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905.

E. V KOCH.

SEWAGE SYSTEM VENTILATION.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 29. 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC SEWAGE-SYSTEM VENTILATION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24;, 1905.

Application filed February 29, 1904:. Serial No- 195,735-

and useful Improvement in Sewage-System Ventilatiomof which the followingis a description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in sewage-system ventilation.

In sewage systems as now commonly con structed no provision is made for preventing foul air or noxious gases from escaping at the sidewalk-grade through the openings in the tops of the catch-basins. In all large cities there are thousands of catch-basins through which all sewage-gas escapes at the sidewalklevel. Excretaand many other matters such as rain-water, so much tainted by filth of streets, the discharges of sinks, basins, and baths, and the Waste-water of industrial processes-decompose and give rise to natural gases; but a more serious danger proceeds from the fact that in many cases these produ cts are charged with specific germs and deadly diseases. The noxious gases referred to are formed during the time the waste is being conveyed away in the sewers by gravitation and otherwise and also after the addition of a relatively large volume of water.

The sewage systems now in vogue are not only open to the objection above set forth, but, furthermore, sewage-gas explosions are of frequent occurrence, which of course is dangerous to both life and limb.

It is the object of my invention to provide against the above-pointed-out objections inherent in the present systems, and with this object in view the invention consists of the devices and parts or their equivalents, as hereinafter more fully pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the construction of my invention, and Fig. 2 isa horizontal section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 3 indicates the street-sewer, from which extends upwardly to the sidewalk-level the manhole 4. From the street-sewer leads the drainpipe 5. The catch-basin is indicated by the numeral 6, and this basin has mounted on top thereof and in communication therewith the usual slotted top portion 7, which extends above the street-line generally at the cornercurb. From drain pipe 5 extends downwardly a branch pipe 8, which in the ordinary form of construction of sewage systems terminates at the point 9. Also extending from the same end of the drain-pipe and on a plane above the branch pipe 8 is a vent-pipe 10, which in the ordinary form ofsewage systems terminates at the point 11.

The parts thus far described constitute wellknown sewage systems as now commonly employed, and systems constructed in accordance therewith are open to the serious objections which have heretofore been fully pointed out. M yimprovements whereby these objections are overcome will now be described.

To the inner end of the vent-pipe 10 I eonnect a long extension vent-pipe 12, which runs across the upper portion of the catclrbasin, but not in communication with said catchbasin, and thence ascends to a considerable height above the sidewalk. As hereinbefore pointed out, these vent-pipes 10 in the usual construction terminate at the point 11, so as to be in communication with the catch-basin. In consequence, the gases which escape out of the ends of the vent-pipes in the old systems are free to pass into the catch-basin above the water-line therein and thence upwardly and out through the slotted top of said catch-basin. By the arrangement of vent-pipe herein described, wherein said pipe extends across the catchbasin, but not in communication therewith, and thence extends upwardly for a considerable height, it is impossible for the gases to escape into the catch-basin and thence out through the slotted top of said basin; but instead the gases are carried upwardly and discharged at such height as to preclude any harmful effects therefrom. The heights of the vent-pipes can be regulated by the heights of the surrounding buildings. In case of extra high buildings ordinances could be passed giving the city authorities the right to extend the vent-pipes below the sidewalks and to some convenient place against the building and 4 from thence continued above the highest point of the roof. Under ordinary conditions, however, the plan shown in the accompanying drawings will be found to satisfactorily answer all purposes, and this consists in supporting the upwardly-extending portion of the pipe 12 by means of an upright support or standard 13, which rises upwardly from a concrete base 14. This standard or support can also be conveniently used for the attaching of street-signs and electric-light lamps, lire-alarm and United States mail boxes, and

for the cross-support of the trolley-wire, thus using one post at or near the street-corner instead of four, five, and six.

It will be noticed particularly from Fig. 2 of the drawings that the portion of the extension vent-pipe which extends across the catchbasin is curved into substantially half-circular form, so as to hug closely to the wall of the catch-basin, and thereby provide ample opportunity for gaining access to the interior of the catch-basin for the purpose of cleaning without any interposed barrier, which would be present if the extension from the vent-pipe projected directly across the catchbasin in a straight or non-curved line.

My improvements further comprehend the employment of an extension 15 from the branch pipe 8, said extension coupled to said pipe 8 at the point 9 and projecting downwardly to within such distance from the bottom of the catch-basin as to preclude the possibility of accumulations in the bottom of said catch-basin reaching the lower end of the branch pipe, and thereby closing said end of the branch pipe.

My improvements still further comprehend the employment of an additional vent-pipe 16, extending from the manhole 4 at a desired distance below the street-line 17 and connected at its opposite end to the ventpipe 10.

It will be very evident from the foregoing description that in systems where the ventpipe 10 terminates at the point 11 the noxious gases and foul air flowing from the sewer through the drain-pipe 5 are free to pass upwardly and out through the slotted openings of the top portion 7 of the catch-basin, giving rise to the objections which have been heretofore fully pointed out. By my improvements wherein the extension vent-pipe 12 is employed the gases pass upwardly and escape through the open upper end of said pipe into the atmosphere at such a high point as to be incapable of causing injurious effects to pedestrians; also in existing systems where the pipes 8 terminate at the points 9 when the water-level in the traps become quite low or falls to such an extent as to expose the ends of pipes 9 the foul air and gases from the sewer have an opportunity to escape through pipes 9 in the lower portions of the traps above the water-line and thence pass upwardly and out through the slotted openings of the top portions 7. By my improved construction, wherein the pipe 8 is fitted with the downwardly-projecting extension 15, the water-level in the trap will rarely, if ever, fall below the lower end of this pipe, and consequentl y said pipe is effectually trapped against the escape of noxious gases therefrom. In present constructions also in the event of heavy showers the corner catch-basins cannot and very often do not carry the great volume of water, and frequently the level of the water in the catch-basin reaches the short vent-pipe 10, and as this pipe is not connected to an extension-vent similar to 12 said water is free to pass into said vent-pipe 10 and thereby conveyed through the drain-pipe to the main sewer, thus holding or arresting the sewer-gas in the mains. there being no escape for the powerful gases. They then seek to escape through the manholes in the mains in the center of the street, which are air-tight, and consequently explosions take place, oftentimes resulting in the manhole-covers being blown off and the manholes remaining open for hours. By the provision of the additional vent-pipe 16 employed in my system this danger of explosion is avoided, inasmuch as even should the water accumulate in the catchbasins and sewer and fill up in the sewer above the level of the end of the drain-pipe where said end of the drain-pipe enters the sewer the gas in the sewer still has an opportunity to escape through the additional ventpipe 16.

I prefer to provide openings in the curved portion of the extension vent-pipe 12, and these opening are normally closed by means of screw-plugs 18 18. This forms a convenient clean-out in case any stoppage should occur in the horizontal or vertical run of the vent-pipe 12.

I/Vhat I claim as my invention is 1. In a sewage system, the combination of a catch-basin, a sewer, a drain-pipe having communication at one end with the sewer and at its opposite end with the catch-basin, and a vent-pipe extending from the drain-pipe, thence across the catch-basin but not in communication with said basin, thence outwardly through the wall of the catch-basin, and thence upwardly for a desired distance.

2. In a sewage system, the combination of a catch-basin, a sewer, a drain-pipe having communication at one end with the sewer and having its opposite end extending through one wall of the catch-basin, and thence downwardly for a desired distance above the bottom of the catch-basin and opening into said basin, and a vent-pipe branching from the drain-pipe and extending across the catchbasin but not in communication with said basin, thence outwardly through a wall of the catch-basin, and thence upwardly for a desired distance.

3. In a sewage system, the combination of a catch-basin, a sewer having a manhole extending therefrom, a drain-pipe having communication at one end with the sewer, and at its opposite end with the catch-basin, a ventpipe extending from the drain-pipe, and an additional vent-pipe extending from the manhole and communicating with the first-referred-to vent-pipe.

4. In sewage-system ventilation, the combination of a catch-basin, a sewer having a manhole extending therefrom, a drain-pipe having communication at one end with the sewer and at its opposite end with the catch-basin,

a vent-pipe extending from the drain-pipe and not in communication with the catch basin, and projecting upwardly a desired distance above said catclrbasin, and an additional ventpipe extending from the manhole and communicating with the first-referred-to ventpipe.

5. In a sewage system, the combination of a catch-basin, a sewer having a manhole extending therefrom, a drain-pipe having communication at one end with the sewer, and having its opposite end extending through one 

